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Heart (Pet Shop Boys song)

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"Heart"
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Actually
B-side"I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)"
Released21 March 1988 (1988-03-21)[1]
GenreSynth-pop
Length
  • 3:57 (album version)
  • 4:16 (7-inch version)
  • 8:55 (12-inch version)
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"Always on My Mind"
(1987) 		"Heart"
(1988) 		"Domino Dancing"
(1988)

"Heart" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their second studio album, Actually (1987). It was released as the album's fourth and final single on 21 March 1988 by Parlophone. The song topped the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in April 1988, becoming the duo's fourth and final chart-topper to date in the United Kingdom.[2] Its music video was directed by Jack Bond and filmed in Yugoslavia. The group had initially written the song for Madonna, though they never asked her to record it, instead keeping it for themselves.[3]

Background

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Written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, "Heart" was the fourth and final single from the duo's second studio album, Actually. A new mix different to the album version was released as a single in March 1988, ascending to the top of the charts to become the duo's fourth—and, to date, last—UK number-one single. It was also successful across Europe.

The genesis of the song goes back to the sessions for the duo's first album Please in early 1986 with Shep Pettibone. Originally, the duo had planned to offer it to hi-NRG singer Hazell Dean[4] or—more notoriously—Madonna, but they ultimately kept it for themselves.[3] The duo's version of the song was intended to be used in the Steven Spielberg-produced film Innerspace, but the dance sequence it was intended for was at the wrong tempo for the song. The song was originally called "Heartbeat", but was changed after Culture Club drummer Jon Moss announced the formation of a group named Heartbeat UK.

The lyrics are more traditional than most Pet Shop Boys songs, being a straightforward declaration of love—a characteristic common in many pop songs. On the commentary of the Pet Shop Boys' live video album Cubism, Tennant reveals that the "oh – ah – oh'oh ah" refrain which repeats throughout the song features the vocals of himself, Pavarotti and Wendy Smith (of Prefab Sprout).

According to Tennant they were inspired by the song "I Like You" by Phyllis Nelson, which was produced by Shep Pettibone, who did a remix of "Heart".[4]

The album version of "Heart" was recorded with producer Andy Richards, and was mixed by Julian Mendelsohn. The single remix is an edit of Richards' version with the use of wah-wah guitar, giving the song more of a 1970s sound.

When included on the retrospective PopArt: The Hits collection, the album version of the track was used for the UK release rather than the hit single mix, the reason for this is unknown. The single mix was included on the US release.

Critical reception

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In his review of the single, Jonh Wilde from Melody Maker felt that "after their lugubrious reading of "Always on My Mind", things diminish further with this sour self-parody."[5] Jonathan Romney from NME wrote, "Obviously, the Boys' injection of their vital juices into Patsy Kensit ["I'm Not Scared"] has left them quite drained poor things. This is their limpest single yet. The strange thing is, if this record were by New Order, it'd have the same banal robotic beat, the same banal lyrics, the same bored-witless singing, and it'd be universally acclaimed as a transcendental masterpiece. And it would be too."[6] Johnny Dee from Record Mirror named the song Single of the Week, adding, "'Heart' is immediate modern, compact and remixed from the album, actually, it's what the kids want, it's what I want! This 45 contains every gimmick the Petties have toyed with since 'West End Girls'. Neil and Chris — you are the Marks & Spencer of pop music, the high street gods of the Eighties."[7] The magazine's James Hamilton described the song as a "jittery tuneful Eurobeat throbber" in his dance column.[8]

Music video

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Directed by Jack Bond, director of the band's 1987 film It Couldn't Happen Here, the music video for "Heart" is based on the 1922 film Nosferatu. The video opens with Tennant and his bride (played by model Danijela Čolić Prižmić) being driven to a castle with Lowe as his chauffeur. As he goes to bed with his bride, the vampire, played by Ian McKellen, spies them. Later, he seduces the bride and bites her. Finally, Lowe drives Nosferatu and his bride away, leaving Tennant to stare bitterly after them from a castle window. The video was shot in Mokrice Castle, Slovenia, then one of the Yugoslavia republics.[4]

Track listings

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  • 7-inch: Parlophone / R 6177 (UK)
  1. "Heart" – 4:16
  2. "I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)" – 4:53
  • 12-inch: Parlophone / 12 R 6177 (UK)
  1. "Heart" (disco mix) – 8:27
  2. "I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)" – 4:53
  3. "Heart" (dance mix) – 6:08
  • also released on cassette (TCR 6177) and CD (CDR 6177)
  • 12-inch: Parlophone / 12 RX 6177 (UK)
  1. "Heart" (12-inch remix) – 8:55
  2. "Heart" (dub mix) – 5:15
  3. "I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)" – 4:53

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Smith, Robin (19 March 1988). "News: Pet Shop Boys". Record Mirror. p. 4. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. ^ a b "Pet Shop Boys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b Raggett, Ned. ""Heart" review". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Songfacts. "Heart by Pet Shop Boys - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  5. ^ Wilde, Jonh (26 March 1988). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 32. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  6. ^ Romney, Jonathan (26 March 1988). "Singles". NME. p. 17. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  7. ^ Dee, Johnny (26 March 1988). "45". Record Mirror. p. 37. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  8. ^ Hamilton, James (9 April 1988). "DJ Directory". Record Mirror. p. 37. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 232. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8663." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 18. 30 April 1988. p. 23. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  14. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 233. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  15. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Pet Shop Boys". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Pet Shop Boys" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Pet Shop Boys" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  21. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart". VG-lista. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  22. ^ Currin, Brian. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts P". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  23. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  24. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  25. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Heart". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Pet Shop Boys – Heart" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1988 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Top 25 Dance Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 10. ISSN 0033-7064 – via World Radio History.
  29. ^ "1988 Year End Eurocharts – Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 31. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  30. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1988". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1988". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Top 100 Singles – Year-End Chart 1988" (PDF). Music Week Awards. Music Week. 4 March 1989. p. 12. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  33. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 1 May 2020.

Notes

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  • "Interviews: Pet Shop Boys". This is not retro. March 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  • Heath, Chris (2001). "Heart". In Actually / Further Listening 1987–1988 [CD liner notes]. London: Pet Shop Boys Partnership.
  • Longmire, Ernie and Steffen Gärtner (1989–2006). "Pet Shop Boys: Heart" (TXT). Gardner's Pet Shop Boys Discography. Gardner Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  • Raggett, Ned. "Heart". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 September 2006.


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